The Houston City Council on Wednesday formed a special parking district along Washington Avenue, intended to ease the woes associated with the bustling corridor's mix of bars, restaurants and residential streets.

The plan will add parking meters on about 350 spaces along Washington, and will make it easier for residents to require parking permits on sleepy side streets. The district extends one block on either side of Washington between Westcott and Houston Avenue.

After paying for the meters, two parking enforcement officers and a meter mechanic, the new revenues will be split between the district and the city, with the district keeping 60 percent for enhancements. Projects will be chosen by a committee of local business owners and residents and could include security, lighting, sidewalks, shuttles or a parking garage.

Meters add patrons

Councilwoman Ellen Cohen, who, with Councilman Ed Gonzalez, represents the area, cheered the approval, saying it will spur turnover for businesses and protect residents. She said data from other cities shows the meters will add patrons, not drive them away.

"People that go out to restaurants and are prepared to spend a significant amount of money want to find a place to park," Cohen said. "They're certainly prepared to spend a little bit more to find a place and pay for it."

Mayor Annise Parker said it will take time to install meters, grant permits and give businesses time to find parking for their employees, who have been using prime spots on Washington. Once set up, she said, the district will launch an 18-month pilot period.

The meters will charge $2 an hour at night and $1 an hour during the day, or can issue nightlong passes for $7.

"Few people like the idea of parking meters, and even fewer people like the idea of having to pay for a permit to park in front of their own house," said Jane West, president of a local coalition of civic clubs. "But the parking situation is so acute that these are the best solutions anyone has been able to come up, and we've all been working together on it for almost four years."

Wednesday's vote also waived the requirement that 75 percent of a block seeking parking permits be made up of single-family homes for streets within 1,000 feet of Washington. Residents still must show parking problems, that their block supports permits and get City Council approval.

Ricardo Molina, who owns a cantina on Washington, said he supports residential permits, but called the overall plan misguided.

Dissenting voices

"They say it's going to create turnover, but it's not going to create any new parking, and the reality is that most of the people who are having a lot of issues, crowding, and noise - that's late at night when restaurant folks are home in bed," Molina said. "This doesn't solve that problem."

Councilman Mike Sullivan, one of two "no" votes, said entertainment districts shift over time and that city intervention was unnecessary.

"There's a lot of business and a lot of traffic going on," he said, "but the assumption that parking meters are going to increase accessibility to the businesses is going to end up being unfounded."